Justice Power

Bandar Seri Begawan - Brunei's legal community is in a state of shock following the sudden death here, of one of its prominent members.

Justice Sir Noel Plunkett Power, the President of the Brunei Court of Appeal collapsed after a massive heart attack and was rushed to the hospital two days ago.

He was 79 years old and had been serving Brunei as a visiting judge for 29 years.

The Law Society of Brunei Darussalam yesterday in a press release said that it was with much sadness that the legal community of Brunei Darussalam announced the passing of the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Sir Noel Plunkett Power.

"Sir Noel passed away on Thursday November 19 at Jerudong Park Medical Centre after suffering a heart attack," the statement said.

"Sir Noel had recently completed the second Court of Appeal session for 2009.

"Sir Noel had been the President of the Court of Appeal since April 2007, and had sat as a Justice of the Court of Appeal since 1989.

"Prior to that, Sir Noel had presided in the Brunei High Court as a Judicial Commissioner from the early 1980's.

"Sir Noel was born and raised in Brisbane Australia, graduating from the University of Queensland.

"He was appointed as a Magistrate in Hong Kong in 1965 and served on the Land Tribunal. Sir Noel was appointed a Judge of the High Court of Hong Kong in 1979.

"He was appointed Vice President of the Hong Kong Court of Appeal in 1995 and served as Acting Chief Justice of Hong Kong from 1996 to 1997.

"From 1997, Sir Noel was appointed as a non-permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal in Hong Kong and received a Knighthood in 1999.

"Sir Noel was highly respected in the legal community for his fairness, compassion and integrity. The legal community expresses their condolences and sympathies to Lady Power and the family of the late Sir Noel."

Meanwhile Wikipedia gives further background on the eminent judge mentions that his father, Dr John Power, was a well-respected surgeon who served in the Australian Army and was the Chairman of the Queensland Turf Club.

Sir Noel attended the Downlands School before going on to study law at the University of Queensland. He was called to the Bar of Queensland and, in 1965, he emigrated, with his Croatian-born wife Irma, to Hong Kong. He served as a magistrate and then on the Lands Tribunal. He was appointed a Judge of the High Court of Hong Kong in 1979 and a Justice of the Court of Appeal in 1987.

He was later appointed Vice President of the Court of Appeal in 1995 and, as such, served as acting Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Hong Kong in 1996-1997 during the Hong Kong handover period.

After the handover in 1997, he assumed senior status and was appointed a non-permanent judge of the Court of Final Appeal. Sir Noel continued to sit on the Court of Final Appeal and was also President of the Court of Appeal of Brunei. In 1999, he was conferred Knight Bachelor and Gold Bauhinia Star (GBS) by Queen Elizabeth II. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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written by brian and patricia mossop , November 24, 2009

Sir Noel was a gentleman of the highest order - a friend and always delightful company; an Australian who did his country proud, a bon vivant, lover of good company, good food and good wine. He will be missed. Our sincere condolences to his wife and family.

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